This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.
Both sides previous revision Previous revision Next revision | Previous revision | ||
geda:gschem_ug:components [2011/12/23 19:46] peterb |
geda:gschem_ug:components [2014/04/24 01:40] vzh <key> formatting |
||
---|---|---|---|
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
+ | | << [[moving_copying|Moving and copying]] | **[[geda:gschem_ug|gEDA gschem User Guide]]** | [[pins_nets_buses|Pins, nets and buses]] >> | | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===== Components ===== | ||
+ | |||
+ | A //component// in a schematic is an instance of a symbol from a //symbol library//. They can represent subcircuits to be included in the design, or discrete parts or devices to be used. | ||
+ | |||
+ | To add a component to a schematic page, press <key>i</key> or select **Add→Component...** to bring up the "Select Component..." window. The window has three main areas: | ||
+ | |||
+ | * The //library area// is on the left side of the window, and allows you to choose a symbol to place on the schematic page. | ||
+ | * The //preview area// is on the right side of the window. This shows a picture of the chosen symbol, and its [[attributes]]. | ||
+ | * The //insertion mode menu// at the bottom of the window controls how components are inserted. | ||
+ | |||
+ | <note important> | ||
+ | Components should only be added to schematics, and not to symbols. | ||
+ | </note> | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==== Selecting a component you have already used ==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | By switching to the **In Use** tab of the component selector, you can view a list of the symbols that have already been used in the schematic. To select a symbol from the list, left-click on it. | ||
+ | |||
+ | If the list needs to be updated, click the **Refresh** button at the bottom of the "In Use" page. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==== Selecting a component from a symbol library ==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | <note tip>See [[config|Configuring gschem]] for information on controlling which symbol libraries appear in the component selector.</note> | ||
+ | |||
+ | To select a symbol from a symbol library, switch to the **Libraries** tab of the component selector. This shows a list of available libraries. To view the symbols in a library, double-click on the library's name, or left-click the arrow next to it. To select a symbol from the list, left-click on it. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Alternatively, you can search all available symbols by typing into the **Filter** box at the bottom of the **Libraries** page. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The list of libraries and symbols may need to be updated (for example, if you modified a symbol library while gschem was running). To update it, click the **Refresh** button at the bottom of the **Libraries** page. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==== Placing a component ==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | When you have selected a component, left-click in the schematic view area of the [[main_window|main window]] to add it to the page. You can continue to click to place copies of the same component, or right-click to finish placing. | ||
+ | |||
+ | To hide the "Select Component..." window while you place components, click **OK**. When you right-click to finish placing components, the window will re-appear. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==== Symbol insertion modes and embedding ==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | There are three ways that gschem can insert a symbol into a schematic: | ||
+ | |||
+ | - As a component linked to a symbol in the symbol library (**Default behavior - reference component**). This is the default method, which ensures that when you update a library symbol, all the places it was used are updated too. | ||
+ | - As a component with the symbol data copied into the schematic (**Embed component in schematic**). If you //embed// the symbol, it is easier to share your schematic with other users without having to set up the same symbol libraries. | ||
+ | - As individual objects obtained by breaking the symbol apart (**Include component as individual objects**). | ||
+ | |||
+ | You can make a linked component embedded by selecting it and using **Edit→Embed Component/Picture**. To make an embedded component linked, use **Edit→Unembed Component/Picture**. | ||
+ | |||
+ | <note>If an embedded component cannot be matched up with a symbol from the available symbol libraries, **Edit→Unembed Component/Picture** will not modify it.</note> | ||
+ | |||
+ | If you wish to update an embedded component after making changes to the original symbol file in the library, use **Edit→Update Component**. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==== Editing symbols ==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | To edit a component's symbol file, select the component and use **Hierarchy→Down Symbol**. gschem will open and display the symbol page for editing. When you are finished editing, save the file and use **Hierarchy→Up** to return to the schematic. You may need to use **Edit→Update Component** for your changes to be reflected in the schematic view. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==== Missing symbols ==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | If, when [[schematic_pages|loading a schematic]], one of the symbols it needs cannot be found in the available symbol libraries, a warning graphic will be displayed in its place. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==== Viewing component documentation ==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | <note tip>When designing symbols, specify the location of component documentation using a [[geda:master_attributes_list#documentation|documentation attribute]]. See also [[Attributes]].</note> | ||
+ | |||
+ | A component may have a datasheet or other documentation associated with it. To view a component's documentation, [[selecting|select it]] and use **Help→Component Documentation**. | ||